‘Stop Building’: Backlash in Ballantyne?
A plan to build 164 townhouses in Ballantyne on one of the biggest remaining undeveloped pieces of land in south Charlotte is stirring some strong feelings from nearby residents who say enough is enough.
David Weekly Homes, the nation’s largest private homebuilder, submitted plans to the city last month asking to rezone 37 wooded acres off Blakeney Heath Road, behind Community House Middle School and the Morrison YMCA. The site plan shows about 40 of the townhouses backing up to an existing single-family subdivision called Ellington Park.
Since The Ledger published details of the rezoning request last month, nearby residents have taken to Nextdoor to register their concerns about knocking down trees and the potential for more traffic. An Instagram account called “stopbuilding_ballantyne” has weighed in to its 91 followers, and there are a half-dozen signs near the planned development promoting the Instagram account and urging residents to email their City Council representative, Ed Driggs.
Growing pains: Complaints about growth are common in Charlotte, but they are particularly noteworthy in Ballantyne because that area of town is so new. For the most part, it didn’t exist 25 years ago. Houses in the subdivision adjacent to the site were built in the late 1990s, though much of Ballantyne, Blakeney and other points in the southernmost parts of the city weren’t developed until the last 15 years.
The area is also in the middle of a huge rezoning by Ballantyne Corporate Park owner Northwood Office, which would like to redevelop part of the golf course on 25 acres in the center of Ballantyne and add retail shops, restaurants and 1,200 apartments in its first phase. At a community meeting this summer, there seemed to be little vocal opposition to those plans.
The recent townhouse plans have spurred a robust debate on Nextdoor about the area’s growth:
- Ragnar from Farmington Woods: “You’re worried about 164 new homes, lol? You should be more worried about the 2,500+/- homes, 1,000+ apartment units, the corporate headquarters move and the hospital being approved and planned along Johnston rd, south of 485 into Lancaster county. We’re moving far away because this traffics become unbearable…good luck to those planning on staying. You’ll need a helicopter to get anywhere in south Charlotte.”
- Deloris from Mitchell Glen: “Ragnar is correct. It is the worst city planning ever. The greed of the builders holding hands with the greed of the City ‘leaders?”
- Ken from Hunter Oaks: “Guess who built Mitchell Glen…a greedy developer. Lol.”
Neighbors also sparred over whether they are allowed to display the anti-development signs in their neighborhoods:
- William from Somerset: “Unapproved signs are forbidden in Bushwood!”
- Brenda from Mitchell Glen: “No offense but I’ve lived off Blakeney Heath for 20 yrs and have no idea where Bushwood is. Is it a relevant location?”
- Roger from Williamsburg: “I’m fairly sure that’s a reference to the Country Club in the movie ‘Caddyshack.’”
South Charlotte land crunch: The site is one of the largest undeveloped pieces of land in south Charlotte. It was mentioned in a Ledger article in August examining possible sites for a new high school in south Charlotte — an issue that remains unresolved. Real estate experts said at the time that there are only five privately owned parcels of 20+ acres south of Pineville-Matthews Road.
Working with neighbors: In an interview, Mark Gibbs, David Weekly Homes’ division president for Charlotte, said the company is working with the city on plans for the development and will definitely talk to nearby residents to address their concerns. He said he didn’t have a lot of specifics but that the townhouses would sell for at least $400,000 apiece. The company is also developing the SouthRidge community off Community House Road, where townhouses sell in the mid-$400,000s, he said.
David Weekly Homes, he said, has been in the Charlotte area for more than 20 years and wants to build a development that’s a “good fit for the community.”
This article appeared in the Jan. 10, 2020, edition of The Charlotte Ledger. Read the rest of the newsletter here.
